Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-14
Yircnla-Ycr Condltlon.

We have hqd conversation touching the
prcseut condition Of Virginia with one OF
the most intelligent and spacious OF the
leading businessmen Of This city who TT
Gently travelled over large portion OF the
state. lie says that the condition OF the
peop'c in many Of the counties il cap
Mailing" that they are actually worse of
than they were twenty years ago. He
tclls of tOhacco.planiCrS Whose last crops
brought less money than their fertilizers
had cost them. In word, he describes
this Commouwealih jus, as she is Ire
land impoverished ., al>eulceism.
What sort Of ab>cutcciSm: Why are
not The states south ~ H. IN like condl-
ton Because they have mouey-crop;
because the cotton crop commands annual
Iy in TIE markets OF The world an immense
sum Of money and conutcract> the effects
wrought by the absentecism OF winch we
speak. and which consists in the fact that
the south Is taxed millions OF dollars an
nually to pay pensions 10 persons residing
in the northern section Of the Union. For
twenty years stream Of money from Ibis
section has constantly poured into the
pockets Of the northern people.
The BL1R bill promised to correct this
evil in some measure by cXpcnding in Viz
GINA annually for education a larger sum
than Virginia would be entitled 10 If the
fund appropriated To that object were dis
Strange TO say. many southern men in Con-
grcsS refused 10 support That bill. The Re-
pubIiCaDs end the Democrats both divided
on the subject. We regret that any south
ern nan should thus have daTaged his own
people.
The river.and.haIbor bill is another
which provides for appropriations to be
eXpc, ded in The South exceeding the
amount which this section would get il that
fupd were distributed according to popu-
lation. over this bin. also, both Republi-
cans and Democrat, make butter contest.
To talk about Increasing taxes in Viz
gina under these circumstances j. prepOs-
ferrous. The people cannot pay without
much trouble The existing very low taxes.
It's not the debt that make, tobacco. wheat,
corn, &C., so low. II the capitalist, OF New
YOIk were generou'lj TO pay OIL the entire
debt of Virginia tomorrow. her prosperity
would not thereby toe assured. The trouble
is that she canncs ad0ld 10 raise tobacco,
corp, or wheat to be sold at the prices now
prevailing. She j., in 4 word, without a
money-crop at ala deporabie fact truly.
What other State is in liSc condition?
Whilst we we're pennlug the above para
graphs, a note from one Of the city
fathers was banded to Us. II i, not In-
appropriate to the subiCct Of this article. L!
is as follows;
n ne Editor ofhc DiSpqtch:
Your leader t1ls morning sounds really
the most CbeCliug notes q promise t. Nir-
pinis, oyeT.rI0den and Gi,gr1,cd a. she is
nv the power Of Federal judges. The criti.
cal Hines. Of Mr.. Ju.ticc Woods Is GER
taitiy not an event that Christians should
rejoice IN. but then Pa, death ami thlJ OF
one or two others iu adNanc. years now on
the bench ore eVcU,, thai must come
shortly II will then be equally inevitably
DfeStO change. aud virginia viii b. Oh top.
View things, rather The people, a they
are, Mr. E0itOr. end youG viii ind thai the
RiCGlebtrctr bill j. their uHimQt,Ga. You
may not discover this in ibc firDdl aimOS'
pheTe. but 90 ten miles into the country by
auy ioad YOU choose aud iDh;1e the Oreczcs
from bill or dale. II not content with one
daV'. exploit 20 iultnCf, and 20 any where
ami bring back a true index OK the di gust
that sll tie people are beginning 10 con.
ceivc fer the whole subject.
II is 10 use 70 Try II conceal widespread
and piuchIng poverty. y taN-cOlleH0r
went to a hou.e 10 levy ou pig or COW
the Other Gay in a county not hundred
miles from tnis city. He iound the family
liyiog on parched coin-too poor 10 have 1t
ground to m,sl. Ny.
MAY Is, 1857.
"Wide.spresd aud pirchiuE poverty " II
is truly; and Just q trHly. it Is vain 10 try
TO conceal it. Richmond is fayorably cir
cumstanced, rs compared witt the rura
districts, though here sIso the voice OF com
plant is uplified not inirequentl'. Natu-
raIly Richmond does not suffer 10 the same
exteut the rural districts do from what we
call absenteeism. But oil wealth is based
upon agrlcultuit: anu "' Wv! "a" ''"~
remaiD prosperous whose tributary terri
tory is n6l prosperous.
We would not willingly say one word
calculated 10 prevent a settlement Of the
state debt. What we have said was in
tended rather TO be apOlegetic aud to call
attention to the stern necessity which binds
Virginia in chains. and doe. not allow her
any choice in the matter OF settling her Pc
cuniary obligations.
Would to Heaven it were otherwise.